Sports & Recreation
Comprehensive Resources
Recsports
"As the rigors of work and academics challenge the mind, RecSports offers a balance through activities that challenge the body. Our programs and services are designed to meet the needs of Notre Dame students, faculty, staff, their families and retirees. Whether you are looking to learn a new skill, join a club, increase your fitness level or compete against others in a variety of leagues, RecSports has something for everyone."
South Bend Parks and Recreation
The City of South Bend Parks and Recreation maintains a large network of parks that offer a variety of recreational activities, including pools, basketball courts, and hiking/biking trails.
St. Joseph County Parks
St. Joseph County has 8 parks with dozens of trails, classes, activities, and more! Learn all about it at sjcparks.org.
Potato Creek State Park
About 20 minutes south of town, Potato Creek State Park is the perfect natural getaway for hiking, biking, boating, fishing, swimming, and more.
Think “Outside the Bend” with the South Bend Adventure Club!
The South Bend Adventure Club exists to get folks together, get outdoors, and have fun. Hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, climbing, skiing, even mushroom hunting – any way to explore the great outdoors in and around the South Bend area, they’ve done it. There are no dues or fees, and anyone can participate. Join the SBAC Facebook group to see upcoming events and see stories and photos of the latest adventures. For more information, contact Frank Bouchard at Frank.A.Bouchard.6@nd.edu
Notre Dame Athletics
Check out the online sports calendar for all Notre Dame Athletics, and support some of the best student athletes in the country. And if you have any athletes in the courses/labs you teach, they always get a huge kick out of seeing you at their games.
Area Attractions
Volunteer with the Humane Society of St. Joseph County!
Do you love animals but can’t currently care for a pet? Problem solved! Become a volunteer at the Humane Society of St. Joseph County. They always welcome assistance playing with cats and walking dogs. Contact the Humane Society at volunteerhssjc@gmail.com for more information.
Mishawaka's awesome dog park
The Prickett Marina Park in Mishawaka has an off-leash dog run that is free and open from sunrise to sunset year-round. Whether you are a dog owner or simply a dog lover who wants the chance to interact with friendly pets, you’ll love this park for pooches. There are some rules to follow to ensure the safety of humans and animals alike, so be sure you and your canine companion are ready to play by the rules.
Camping
Potato Creek State Park
St. Patrick's Park
Indiana Dunes National Park
State & National Parks in Indiana
State & National Parks in Michigan
South Bend Cubs
The Single-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, the South Bend Cubs play minor league baseball all summer long at the Stanley Covaleski Regional Stadium downtown.
East Race Waterway
The first artificial white water course in North America, the East Race Waterway urban whitewater course is approximately 2,000 feet long with a total fall of about 12 feet, complete with movable obstacles that vary the difficulty of the course. Open June through mid-August.
Indiana Dunes National Park
Roughly 45 minutes from campus, Indiana Dunes National Park encompasses 15,000 acres of the southern shore of Lake Michigan, offering more than 45 miles of trails over sand dunes, wetlands, prairies and forests, while also boasting 15 miles of pristine sandy beaches. Indiana Dunes is the only national park in Indiana and one of the country's most recently added parks.
Indiana Dunes National Park | Indiana Dunes State Park
St. Joseph Beach
Located on Notre Dame’s own St. Joseph Lake, St. Joseph Beach is sure to provide plenty of summer time fun for students, faculty, staff, and their families. Come see what it's all about.
- Sandy beach
- Planked pier for sunbathing
- Summer canoe, kayak and paddleboat rental
- Stand Up Paddleboard instruction and rental
- Water toys
- Restrooms
After summer officially ends, you can still catch the end of beach season right here on campus. The St. Joe Beach is also open post-season from Monday to Friday from 12:00 - 7:00 p.m., weather permitting. Visit RecSports for more details about hours, boat rentals, and open distance water swim, or call the lifeguard on duty at (574) 631-7645 with any questions about beach closings.
Swimming*
In addition to the swimming pools located on campus, Rolfs Aquatic Center and Rockne Memorial, which are open to students as well as their spouses and children, the Cities of South Bend and Mishawaka operate community pools, which are open during the summer.
South Bend Pools/Water Pads | Mishawaka Merrifield Pool
Biking
Campus to campus: walk or bike from ND to Indiana University-South Bend (IUSB) on the East Bank Trail, a paved pathway along the banks of the St. Joseph River. Maintained by South Bend Parks & Recreation, the trail provides a safe, convenient and beautiful venue for walking or biking. There is also a local bike-match program organized through Bike Michiana!
Golfing
The Michiana area is rich with quality golf courses, ranging from the on-campus Warren Golf Course (rated the #6 course in Indiana and #12 collegiate course in America by GolfWeek) to extremely well-kept municipal courses and privately owned public courses. Students enjoy discounted green fees at Warren Golf Course.
Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame | Michiana Golf Courses
Skiing
Despite the overall flat land of Northern Indiana, there are three skiing areas within a 90-minute drive of South Bend, making use of the lake-effect snows off of Lake Michigan and the winding river valleys.
Timber Ridge
Swiss Valley
Bittersweet
Campus Cross Country Skiing
During the winter months, cross country skis can be rented from Rockne Memorial and used on the Warren Golf Course.
Ice Skating*
Ice skating is available year-round on campus at the Compton Family Ice Area, and outdoors during the winter months in both South Bend and Mishawaka.
Compton Family Ice Arena (Notre Dame) | Howard Ice Rink | Merrifield Ice Rink
*Of course, The Rockne Memorial pool, Rolf's Aquatic Center, and the Compton Family Ice Arena are open to University patrons year-round.